Home Remedies for Foot Pain

Foot pain is one of the most common ailments, affecting people of all age groups at some point in their lives. Foot pain can occur anywhere in the foot including the toes, heel, sole, ankle or arch.

Pain can be due to a number of reasons such as old age, wearing uncomfortable shoes, excessive walking, standing on your feet for a long period of time, some kind of fracture, a mineral deficiency, ingrown toenails, and diabetes or other health conditions.

There are many things that you can try at home using readily available ingredients to take care of foot pain naturally.

Here are the top 10 home remedies for foot pain.

1. Hot and Cold Water

Hot-and cold-water therapy can be effective in treating foot pain. The hot treatment will promote blood flow, and the cold treatment will reduce inflammation.

Fill one bucket with cold water and another with bearable hot water. Sit in a comfortable chair, dip your feet in the hot water for three minutes and then do the same with cold water for at least 10 seconds or up to a minute. Repeat the whole process two or three times and end with cold foot bath.

Another option is to apply a heat pad and an ice pack alternately for 10 minutes to reduce pain.

2. Vinegar

Vinegar is used in various treatments and can help with foot pain due to sprains or strains as it reduces inflammation.

Fill a tub with hot water. Add two tablespoons of vinegar in it. You can also mix sea salt or Epsom salt in it. If you do not have any of these, just use table salt. Soak your feet in it for about 20 minutes.

Alternatively, put a mixture of equal amounts of vinegar and water in two containers. Use cold water in one and hot water in the other. Soak a towel in the hot mixture, squeeze out the excess liquid and then wrap it around your foot. Leave it wrapped for five minutes. Do the same using the cold mixture. Repeat the whole process at least three or four times daily.

3. Epsom Salt

Epsom salt can help soothe your feet, giving you instant relief from foot pain. Combining heat and Epsom salt, which is primarily magnesium, works well to relax the feet and ease pain.

Put two to three tablespoons of Epsom salt in a tub of warm water.

Soak your feet in the tub for 10 to 15 minutes.

The salt can make your feet dry, so apply some moisturizer after soaking them.

4. Ice

Ice therapy is a good way to reduce pain and swelling on the feet. Put a small amount of crushed ice in a small plastic bag and use it to massage the affected area in a circular motion. You can also use a bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in a thin towel.

The cold temperature will temporarily numb the nerve endings in the painful area and give you relief. Swelling will also be reduced. Do not use an ice pack for more than 10 minutes at a time; longer use can damage the skin and nerves.

5. Clove Oil

For quick relief, gently massage your aching feet with clove oil. This will stimulate blood flow and relax your muscles. You can massage your feet and heels with clove oil several times a day.

If you have sensitive skin or a cut, dilute three drops of clove oil with one teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil and then massage your feet with it.

6. Cayenne Pepper

Cayenne pepper is a rich source of capsaicin, which is known to relieve muscle aches and pains, arthritis, muscle strain, lower back pain, and even aching feet.

If your feet ache when they get cold, sprinkle some cayenne pepper in your socks before putting them on. This will help keep your feet warm.

Another treatment is to add one-half teaspoon of cayenne pepper powder to half a bucket of hot water and soak your feet in it for a few minutes. This will have a soothing effect and give you relief from pain.

I get Blisters in my feet,also they I loose the skin after the blisters go down then my feet harden and the skin starts to come off…My feet also swell up and get very hot.Im also a Cancer patient ,(kidney cancer) diabetic,highblood pressure,and the pain is awful…

Proper fitting shoes is another good remedy as well. My feet hurt like terribly – achy and could barely stand up much less walk for very long. My Dr. advised me to get a proper pair of shoes and once I did (although they are expensive ) the pain went away.

Was just coming across old ads for Mentholatum Ointment which featured relieve for tired feet. So add one more to this list. All those cooling/heating salves with camphor & menthol in a petrolatum base.

I have Achilles tendonitis. The pain is unbearable most of the times with a lot of burning and stiffness. I have been to doctor and I am taking pain killers but the pain is getting worst and so is my mood, would love to hear of a more natural way of healing.

I had a similar problem and found an excellent solution by surfing on the net.First of all find the exact point by pressing on the heal with the back of a rounded object…like a pen.Make a circle with a pen.Stick a few pepper corns on a sticky tape and stick it on the painful area…leave for 24 hours.You can walk around with it.Repeat if required.This put me out of misery within no time.

for a couple of weeks now my feet are so painful. I thought it was from uncomfortable shoes that im using but this time im using a rubber shoes and still it is so painful.To the point that its hard to walk.

last year in winter I got severe heel pain in right foot side.well somebody said heat up a big stone n cover with towel n rub ur heel on that stone hardly that u shout. I tried n I get rid of in 5 days.now again this winter it has started again n I m trying that procedure again twice a day. so try it.

I have had numbness in my toes for going on two years. It is just in my toes on both feet. sometimes I get shooting pain but not all the time. My feet seem to be very very sensitive even to the touch anymore. Have been to several doctors with no help. Any help you can give me I would greatly appreciate it. This is very frustrating.

I have swollen feet and very painful on top of the feet. When I walk it feels like my toes are broken. It is bilateral. Doctors have tried water pillsand ultrasounds. Blood tests. Cardiac tests. All normal. Help.